Lawmakers honor Chardon 'heroes'

Thursday

Mar 29, 2012 at 12:01 AMMar 29, 2012 at 10:50 AM

Just a month after a high-school shooting in Chardon left three dead and two seriously wounded, Gov. John Kasich and the General Assembly honored law-enforcement, firefighters, school officials and other first responders for their efforts.

Just a month after a high-school shooting in Chardon left three dead and two seriously wounded, Gov. John Kasich and the General Assembly honored law-enforcement, firefighters, school officials and other first responders for their efforts.

Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said the governor wanted the 47 men and women, whom Kasich called “ real heroes” in a tweet yesterday, to share their experiences with his cabinet.

After the emotional meeting, Nichols said, the group had lunch with the governor, before receiving commendations from the Ohio House and Senate.

The group included police officers, firefighters and school officials from Chardon and many surrounding areas; it was a sea of black uniforms, brass badges and solemn faces that filled seats in the House and Senate.

“It was a very bittersweet moment. The events that occurred on Feb. 27 were a tragedy,” said Geauga County Sheriff Dan McClelland. “We come down today in an effort to share lessons learned."

House Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, said those there had gone beyond the call of duty.

“In these times of tragedy that we face … there are always those who come forward and do — not just their duty — but make the extraordinary effort to see to it that those who are endangered are protected. We thank you today,” he said.

“Their selflessness exemplifies the true meaning of public service and reminds us who are the real heroes in our society,” said Rep. Mary Brigid Matheney, R-Bainbridge Township. “For that, the first-responders deserve our sincere gratitude.”

Tom Hummel, assistant fire chief for the Chardon Fire Department, said he did not feel like a hero; the honor belonged to those on the front line.

“I know the men I worked with and the women I worked with at the fire department … they didn’t want to be considered heroes — they were.”

Chardon Police Chief Timothy McKenna shared Hummel’s sentiment.

“When the call came in, I thought someone was calling a drill and didn’t tell us about it. Then it turned into a reality,” he said. “We’re trained to do this job, we do it and rely on that training — and that’s what happened out there.”

McKenna said all of Chardon deserved the honor.

“I wish the whole town could have come,” McKenna said. “It’s only been a month, so we still have a long way to go — but we’re working on that.”

Also present was Frank Hall, an assistant football coach credited with chasing the teenage gunman from the school and possibly saving more lives.

With an eye on the future, Sen. John Eklund, a Republican from Chardon, said the town must find balance between remembering the lessons of that day and moving beyond the grief.

“While we shall remember the events of the 27th of February, 2012, those events will not — and we will not — let them define us,” he said.

The alleged shooter, 17-year-old T.J. Lane, is charged with three counts of aggravated murder, two counts of attempted aggravated murder and one count of felonious assault. Lane has not entered a plea as authorities decide whether he will be tried as an adult.

Justin Conley is a fellow in the Ohio University E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Statehouse News Bureau.